Portret van Joseph Radcliffe 1812 - 1834

Editor: So this is James Heath’s “Portret van Joseph Radcliffe,” an engraving from somewhere between 1812 and 1834. What strikes me is the very casual pose, the almost slouch, juxtaposed with what must have been very formal attire. What do you see in this image? Curator: Immediately, the dog. Think of it as a *canis fidelis*, an emblem of loyalty and faith. Why place the dog there, under his master’s chair? The space it occupies suggests Radcliffe's dominance, of course, but there is softness, too. A faithful companion under his protection, visually quite literally. Editor: I hadn't thought about the position of the dog so deliberately! Curator: Look also at the objects on the table. We see architectural drawings perhaps. The horns possibly allude to hunting, another type of mastery over nature. Consider them signifiers of Radcliffe's standing and engagement with the world around him. Do you think there might be other readings of these symbols? Editor: Well, the documents could point to intellectual pursuits, while the horns perhaps suggest power and virility, things which the man himself does not communicate physically. Curator: Precisely. He is grounded, seated, and solid, literally rooted through his animal companion to the earth. There's a contrast created between what he *is* and what he *aspires* to. Editor: That’s a fantastic observation. I came in thinking this was just a simple portrait, but it seems Heath included so much more than just an image of a man. Curator: Indeed, a visual construction of a self and a role. This makes the engraving into so much more than a portrait. Editor: It’s a clever and complex visual argument, and that animal really brought it home for me. Thanks so much.